Entlebuch (district)
Encyclopedia
Entlebuch District is one of the five Ämtern, or districts, of the German
-speaking Canton of Lucerne
, Switzerland
. Its capital is the village of Schüpfheim
.
. The valley had been acquired by the house of Habsburg
in 1300. In the later 14th century, the Entlebuch was in conflict with Obwalden
over the right to alpine pastures, culminating in the battle of Sörenberg
in 1380. As a result of the conflict, the Entlebuch sought an alliance with Lucerne
and in 1385 became a subject territory of that city. The region was long known as the "poorhouse of Switzerland
" (also as the "Wild West of Lucerne") and is struggling for economic independence even today. In 2001 UNESCO
accepted the region of Entlebuch to become part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves
, in which conservation of the natural and cultural landscape is coupled with strengthening the local economy.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
-speaking Canton of Lucerne
Canton of Lucerne
Lucerne is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population of the canton is . , the population included 57,268 foreigners, or about 15.8% of the total population. The cantonal capital is Lucerne.-History:...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Its capital is the village of Schüpfheim
Schüpfheim
Schüpfheim is a municipality in the district of Entlebuch in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. It is part of the UNESCO Entlebuch Biosphere Reserve since 2001.-Geography:...
.
History
The area of the district is equivalent to the historical region of Entlebuch. At a total area of 395 km² it is dominated by the main valley of the Kleine EmmeKleine Emme
The Kleine Emme is a river of the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland, a left tributary of the Reuss River extending for 58 km, draining a basin of 477 km²...
. The valley had been acquired by the house of Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
in 1300. In the later 14th century, the Entlebuch was in conflict with Obwalden
Obwalden
Obwalden is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population is 33,997 of which 4,043 are foreigners. Its capital is Sarnen. The canton contains the geographical centre of Switzerland.-History:...
over the right to alpine pastures, culminating in the battle of Sörenberg
Battle of Sörenberg
The battle of Sörenberg was fought in 1380, between the Entlebuch and Obwalden . It was the culmination of a conflict over the right to alpine pastures...
in 1380. As a result of the conflict, the Entlebuch sought an alliance with Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
and in 1385 became a subject territory of that city. The region was long known as the "poorhouse of Switzerland
Poverty in Switzerland
Historically, Switzerland has been a poor country, especially in the Alpine region. From the 17th century, incipient industrialisation brought wealth to the cities, particularly to Zurich, but rural areas remained destitute well into the 19th century, causing the peasant war in 1653, and later...
" (also as the "Wild West of Lucerne") and is struggling for economic independence even today. In 2001 UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
accepted the region of Entlebuch to become part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves
World Network of Biosphere Reserves
The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves covers internationally-designated protected areas, known as biosphere reserves, that are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between man and nature The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves covers internationally-designated protected...
, in which conservation of the natural and cultural landscape is coupled with strengthening the local economy.
Municipalities
Entlebuch consists of the following municipalities: